Jacket boys kick out to 3-0 start

Josh Rouse scored the second of his two goals in the Bluejacket boys’ 4-2 opening win over Princeton Aug. 23. Rouse had the hat trick in the 8-2 win over Becker.

Jacket Girls Soccer begins 2-1: Princeton scored the first goal of the season at CIHS, but the Cambridge-Isanti boys rallied nicely for a 4-2 victory Aug. 23 in a game which was shortened to a half because of an 1 hour, 20 minute lightening delay that evening.

Joel Hieserich sent a nice cross to Josh Rouse for a scoring play which knotted action at 1-1. Josh Samsa made it 2-1 off a Chaz Kieffer corner kick, then the Jackets led 3-1 when Sam Brown delivered on a 35-yard blast. But the game was stopped with 6:57 remaining in the half, then the long wait was on for the skies to clear.

C-I’s Carlos Holmberg headed a ball away from an Tiger attacker in the Aug. 23 victory over Princeton.

When play finally resumed, the Jackets controlled the face-off and nine seconds later, Rouse’s blast to the right corner made it 4-1. The Tigers’ Weidenborner knocked home a long shot to cut the deficit in half, but the quick game ended soon after.

C-I Boys 3, St. Francis 2

Coach Randy Rouse: “On Saturday at rival St. Francis, Josh Samsa gathered a ball sent from a Saint goal kick and skillfully netted it. Samsa scored again 20 minutes later from an assist by midfielder Kieffer. However, SF scraped their way back to strike minutes before halftime and then again minutes into the second half to knot the game 2-2. C-I showed resolve in stopping the changed momentum. A counterattack led by Rouse whose skillful chip over the head of the keeper was sent home by attacking Samsa at the 66th minute.

“It was nice for me to meet the new SF Coach Ryan Sorenson who brings youthful energy to his well-prepared team. The close game assures the rivalry stays alive!”

C-I Boys 8, Becker 2

Rouse scored two goals, and Samsa netted the other when the Jackets led 3-2 at the half.

Coach Randy Rouse: “The second half, though, belonged to us. Kieffer continued making his mark by scoring the next two goals. Just two minutes later, Brown scored his second goal of the season with his head after a perfectly-driven corner kick by Rouse.” Rouse and Samsa added late goals for the 8-2 finish.

Jacket girls begin 2-1

Waiting out a delay to start their Aug. 23 home opener against Princeton, Cambridge-Isanti girls soccer earned a 2-0 victory over the Tigers.

Lindsey Elmquist battled two Tigers for possession in the 2-0 home-opening win for Bluejacket Girls Soccer. Photos by Greg Hunt

Dealing with a quick rain shower which came down at the game’s start, Kali Dawson scored the first goal of the 2012 season on a grazing header off a cross from Nicole Morgan 4:32 into the first half. Morgan later generated two good scoring chances, and the C-I defenders, particularly Thessa Daniels, did a solid job keeping up with the Tigers’ long ball attacks to hold the lead into the break.

Coach Mike Galligan: “In the second half it was Dawson again, this time on a solo breakaway down the middle which led to a long, powerful shot. The Bluejackets kept their composure even under some intense pressure from the Princeton attack, and keeper Justine Larson had a terrific game with 11 saves.

Coach Galligan: “Tough outing against a much improved section-rival Saint team on Saturday. Our offense got off 15 shots with some close calls, and Larson made 15 saves against a relentless attack.”

C-I 5, Becker 0

Coach Galligan: “Kali and Megan Dawson buried goals for a 2-0 lead which stood for most of the Aug. 27 home game. Melyssa Varsoke then exploded into action with a hat trick of three goals in the last 6 minutes. Our midfielders and defenders, along with keepers Larson and Sierra Rowan, held off a coordinated and fast Bulldog attack to earn the shutout.”